Election posters holding their value

WITHIN the next few weeks election posters will start to plaster our towns, occupying prominent locations on approaches to town, and within the town itself.

They will herald the start of the campaign for the local and European elections which will be held in June.

At a recent online meeting of Louth County Council a motion was tabled seeking to limit the number and location of the posters, but it was heavily defeated.

Admittedly it is not an issue that occupies the thoughts of many, and it would be the general impression that the posters have little or no impact on the outcome of elections. How wrong can you get? Research shows that half of all voters are canvassed, see an advert or watch the news about elections. Yet a staggering 83 percent notice election posters.

Posters work and not just for candidates for they were critical to referendums that brought equality and fairness to our Constitution.

One of the main reasons why political parties and independent candidates are reluctant to bin the posters is that newcomers to elections, challenging high profile incumbents, will struggle for recognition without posters.

No matter if a candidate is a Minister or a single issue Independent, posters are a real leveller and cost effective.

The remarkable thing is that at a time of seismic advances in communications technology from loudspeakers on cars to social media, the poster is still a basic tool in our democracy for it appears to surpass the reach of any other platform.

They have been a central part of Irish political campaigns for a century and whether we like it or not are likely to remain with us for some considerable time.